New display highlights Flour Mill Museum

Franco-Sudburian homes in the early 1900s were often decorated with Catholic imagery and contained a number of sacramental objects, each blessed by a priest. In those days, people often spent their final days in the home, surrounded by family. The Sick Call kit, shown here, ensured that household members would receive their Last Rites at home. Supplied photojpg, SU

The Flour Mill Museum is currently closed, but you can still learn about its history and artifacts in a new display at the Mackenzie Library.

The installation, located in the public stairwell at the Main Branch of the Sudbury Public Library features photos and information about artifacts from the Flour Mill Museum’s collection, providing a peek into what daily life was like for local households at the turn of the last century. The display also outlines the history of the area, and shares details about the current project to move the museum to a new location.

The Flour Mill Museum is closed for the time being, as Museums staff prepare it for its upcoming relocation, which will allow for alterations to the water/wastewater lift station that shares its current location.

When asked what prompted the idea for the new display, Museums staff Sarah Small explains, “I wanted to provide some insight into the (move) project and let people know what work is involved. A lot of museums work is behind-the-scenes and this display gives people a little view into that world.”

“There is a lot of paperwork, photography, research and packing associated with every artifact,” Laura Koskocky, curatorial assistant with City of Greater Sudbury Museums, adds. “The museum staff are working very diligently to complete these tasks and have provided exceptional work thus far.”

Homes at the turn of the century were poorly insulated, and most often heated with a wood- or coal-fired stove located in the kitchen and/or living room. To make cold nighttimes comfortable, heavy ceramic bottles would be filled with hot water and placed under the covers to warm up the beds. Supplied photojpg, SU

This project has uncovered some fascinating artifacts, many of which have been in storage for several years.

“Many of the Flour Mill Museum’s collection of artifacts are within storage, as there is no room to display them all at once,” Koskocky says. “We aim to use some of these unique and interesting artifacts within new exhibitions once the Flour Mill Museum has relocated.”

Samantha Morel, the Museums’ Curator explains that, “It’s important for museum artifacts to be rotated in and out of storage to prevent too much continuous permanent damage from light and other environment factors to which they are subject during display. The rotation of artifacts means the whole collection can be preserved longer for the benefit of future generations.

“Luckily, unlike many larger museums, the Flour Mill Museum is able to display a greater total proportion of its artifacts at any one time (about 30 per cent) due to the size and nature of its collection.”

Here are two examples of interesting artifacts within the museum’s collection:

Sick Call Kit

This type of item was very common in Franco-Sudburian homes in the early 1900s. It was decorated with Catholic imagery and contained a number of sacramental objects, each blessed by a priest. In those days, people often spent their final days in the home, surrounded by family. The Sick Call kit ensured that household members would receive their Last Rites at home. The Sick Call Kit is just one example from the collection of the deep importance of the Catholic faith to the neighbourhood’s francophone residents at the turn of 20th century.

Hot Water Bottle

Homes at the turn of the century were poorly insulated, and most often heated with a wood- or coal-fired stove located in the kitchen and/or living room. To make cold nighttimes comfortable, heavy ceramic bottles would be filled with hot water and placed under the covers to warm up the beds.

The public is invited to play “Guess the Artifact” in an interactive part of the display, featuring other rare and unique items that highlight the history of the Flour Mill area.

Members of the public are invited to visit the Greater Sudbury Museums’ other three locations this summer. More information about the Greater Sudbury Museums, their hours of operation and free programs can be found at www.facebook.com/sudburymuseums or on Instagram @GreaterSudburyMuseums.